不行 bù xíng
“won't do; be out of the question; be no good”
adjective2021 list level 2
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
不行 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 542: 不行 bùxíng — Level 3; official annotation 3 (动、形). PDF page 93
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 不行
不行 is used as a verb/adjective meaning "won't do, not workable" (这个办法不行) or "not available" for a time (明天不行). It also means "not capable, not good at" (他做菜不行). Note that it never takes a following verb to mean "cannot": use 不能/不可以+verb instead.
例句Example sentences
- 这个办法不行，我们再想想。zhè ge bàn fǎ bù xíng, wǒ men zài xiǎng xiǎng.This approach won't work; let's think again.
- 明天我要开会，上午不行，晚上可以。míng tiān wǒ yào kāi huì, shàng wǔ bù xíng, wǎn shàng kě yǐ.I have a meeting tomorrow, so the morning doesn't work for me; the evening is fine.
- 他做菜不行，但是很会打扫房间。tā zuò cài bù xíng, dàn shì hěn huì dǎ sǎo fáng jiān.He isn't good at cooking, but he's great at cleaning the room.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我不行去。
✓我不能去。
不行 cannot be followed by a verb meaning "cannot do something"; use 不能/不可以 before the verb.
易混词Easily confused
不行vs不能
不能 is placed directly before a verb to express impossibility or prohibition (不能去、不能吃); 不行 comments on a thing, plan or person and stands on its own as the predicate (这里不行、他不行).